Bauchi State Police Command, at the end of its deliberations with the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES), has restricted the movement of persons and vehicles across the state on election day.
A statement on Thursday, March 16, 2023, signed by the Bauchi State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Ahmed Mohammed Wakil, said that the step taken is to ensure public order management and the safety of electorates, as well as assist the security agencies with effective policing and to deter miscreants from disrupting the electoral process.
The statement read, “Given this, the Command has placed the following restriction orders: Restriction of persons and vehicular movement across the state; unauthorized vehicular movement on roads and other means of transportation between the hours of midnight on Friday and 6:00 pm on Saturday, March 18, 2023, except for essential services; INEC staff, ambulances, firefighter vehicles, and approved election observers with duly valid means of identification.
“VIP Security Aides and Escorts; Important Personalities and Politicians (VIPs) are equally barred from going to a polling unit with their security details on Election Day.
“They are therefore warned to desist from unnecessary movement from one polling unit to another on Election Day.”
“Hence, the unauthorized use of sirens, revolving lights, covered plate numbers, and tinted glasses are still in force, and violators will be sanctioned appropriately.
“On this note, operatives attached to the command in conjunction with other sister security agencies will be deployed to ensure full enforcement.
“However, the CP reiterates the ban on all security aides to VIPs and escorts accompanying their principals and politicians to polling booths and/or collation centers during the election.
“State-established and owned security outfits and organizations, quasi-security units, private guards, and other security outfits are also barred from participating in election security management.
“Therefore, anyone found deliberately “directly or indirectly” flouting this order will be arrested and prosecuted accordingly.
The Command urged members of the public to contact the Nigeria Police Force, the joint Election Monitoring Group, and the Operations Control Room domiciled at State Headquarters, Yandoka Road, Bauchi, via the ‘NPF Rescue Me App,” available on Android and iOS, or via the Npf Rescue Me Emergency Toll-Free Line at 08031230631, 08151849417, or 09053872273 to report suspicious persons, activities, or request security response.
